The
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process,
Elder Ufot Ebong, has urged members of the National
Youth Service Corp, (NYSC), to boost their monthly stipends, by embracing
opportunities offered by the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme,
(AKEES).
He
stated this, Monday, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Nsit Atia Local
Government Area, while addressing Corp members.
Speaking
further, Elder Ebong, noted that the essence of AKEES was to reawaken the
spirit of enterprise, while also bringing out the entrepreneurship spirit of
Akwa Ibom people through the Dakkada creed.
Represented
by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ekemini James, Elder Ebong said, the
institution of the scheme, was a signal that Governor Udom Emmanuel is
concerned about youths in the state, saying, the Corps Members were also
eligible to benefit from AKEES, even as nonindegenes
He
said the scheme is designed to create employment for the youths and make them
employers of labour, and urged them to take advantage of the industrial
revolution created by Governor in the State during their services year.
"I
want to advise you to embrace the various opportunities available in AKEES and
boost your monthly allowance while serving.
"Governor
Udom Emmanuel is a loving Governor and he is interested in your welfare. All
the development stride you are seeing around are evident to the fact that He
(Udom) has the interest of youths at heart and he is not playing politics with
governance.
"The
scheme is designed not only to create employment for the youths but also
employers of labour. The essence is to make the youths, the primary
beneficiaries of the opportunities that Akwa Ibom's new economy will throw up.
It is about preparing people to take advantage of the industrial boom that our
admirable Governor is bringing to the State", he said.
Continuing,
Elder Ebong said Akwa Ibom was the only the State that Championed production of
toothpicks and pencils, and advised them to think less of white collar jobs,
but patronise AKEES, especially, during their service year.
"We
are the only State that has the first operational toothpick and pencils factory
in Nigeria and the Second in the whole Africa. Before now, a federal minister
told us that we will start producing pencils in 2018 and while they were
waiting Governor Udom has done it.
"Attach
less attention to white collar jobs because of the scarcity and embrace Skill
Acquisition in order to fashion out a fulfilled way of life", the
Governor's Aide stated.
While
reiterating the concern of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration to
youth development, the Governor's Aide described Akwa Ibom State as a peaceful
State, saying the government is much concerned about their welfare during their
stay in the state and would provide a conducive environment to ensure they
discharge their service creditably.
Earlier
the Camp Director, Mrs. Eno Ikpe who spoke on behalf of the State Coordinator,
lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for his vision in establishing AKEES and the SSA,
Elder Ufot Ebong for his fatherly attitude and encouragement given to Corps
members in the State, saying the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship
Development (SAED) is a programme introduced by the NYSC scheme to train Corps
members in various skills of their interest to make them self reliant after
National Service.
Mrs.
Eno lauded the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, said the NYSC in Akwa
Ibom State is in support of AKEES which by extension is a demonstration of the
Dakkada Philosophy and appealed for government's quick intervention on
uncompleted projects at the Camp.
Highpoint
of the event was the appointment of AKEES Ambassadors among the Corps members
and donation of baskets of tomatoes by Elder Ufot Ebong.
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